Biden Emboldens, Pipeline Problem, and Cheerio Cheney: The Week in Review

Political News

Headline #1:          Biden Weakness Spawns Violence in Middle East

On Monday, Palestinian militants began launching rockets at Israel, resulting in Israeli airstrikes in retaliation which killed at least 35 Palestinian troops. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli troops to begin amassing near the border, and ground troops entered the Gaza Strip late on Thursday.

Thoughts and Observations:

  • What provoked these rocket launches? According to Palestinian authorities, “as long as the Israeli occupation continues to perpetrate crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, the Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas, will respond and defend” their interests. Additionally, they pointed to the court-ordered eviction of approximately 100 Palestinians from Israeli properties for failure to pay rent. In other words, there was no justifiable reason for the rocket attacks.
  • What this escalation is really about is two things: 1) these types of attacks can boost approval ratings for Palestinian government officials, and Palestinian authorities recently delayed an election which must be rescheduled, and 2) the Palestinians know they can get away with unprovoked attacks because the Biden Administration is pathetically weak. They also know America’s leftist media will provide them with cover.
  • Consider the reality of this situation. One nation, Palestine, decides to launch rockets into another nation, Israel, including at civilian targets such as apartment buildings. Imagine if this happened to any other country. Imagine if Ireland suddenly launched rockets into England, and their justifications were as lame as the Palestinians. Do you think Biden would be demanding explanations? Do you think the Administration would be quick to denounce the attacks? Do you think any of the morons in Hollywood would be coming to the defense of Ireland? Ireland would be scorned, England would pounce, and the whole crisis would be over in short order.
  • How did the Biden Administration respond to the violence? Feebly, of course. They immediately called for “de-escalation.” They went wishy-washy asserting that Israel has a right to defend itself (that was nice of them), while failing to condemn the Palestinians’ actions. How about this? There wouldn’t be a need for “de-escalation” if there wasn’t an “escalation” in the first place. How about assertively denouncing the rocket attacks and threatening the withdrawal of aid? Yup, that ought to do it.
  • When President Trump was elected, we heard predictions of World War III regarding his foreign policy, particularly when he moved our embassy to Jerusalem. When he authorized the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the region, we were told Trump was reckless and the Middle East was doomed. In reality, it was the opposite, as peace was brokered between four Middle East nations and Israel, and tensions there never rose to the levels we saw this week. And why? Because Trump was bold, and they knew he was capable of military actions. But with Biden, Palestinians see a wimp and an opportunity to start trouble. It’s right there in front of us folks, easy to see.
  • Trump’s strategy in the Middle East was brilliant. He de-emphasized the importance of Palestine. He correctly identified Iran as the root cause of strife. And he handled relationships based on each country’s nationalist interests and negotiated accordingly. Trump may have been an amateur when he took office, but he turned out to be shrewder than any Democrat could dream. Biden and his cronies are the novices, and this week’s problems are a clear illustration.

Headline #2:         Cyber-Attack Cuts Flow on Critical Gasoline Pipeline

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A group of computer hackers from Russia were able to infiltrate the system of Colonial Pipeline this week, which provides gasoline for much of the Eastern Seaboard. Gas supplies were shut down, driving up gas prices and resulting in long lines at gas stations from Florida to New Jersey.

Thoughts and Observations:

  • Many Americans are too young to remember, but long lines at gas stations are some of the most lasting memories many of us have of the 1970s. Most states implemented an alternating system based on license plate numbers to be able to buy gas. If your license plate ended in an even number you could buy gas on even number dates; and if it ended in an odd number you could buy on odd number dates. Biden is less-than four months into his presidency, but the similarities between himself and Carter are becoming striking.
  • Biden recently proposed an “infrastructure” bill, and along with power grid security, there may be no more infrastructure issue more pressing than this problem. This shutdown showed our vulnerability, and it can’t happen again.
  • It’s hard to decide which White House reaction was more pitiful: their reaction to Palestine’s rocket attacks as noted in Headline #1, or their reaction to this cyber-attack. Biden’s team essentially punted on the issue and shrugged their shoulders, explaining “Private entities are making their own determinations” on these problems. Unreal.
  • A few items to keep in mind regarding the Administration’s position. This hack was a crime, and a serious one. It was carried out by foreign actors from Russia and was an strike that many would consider an act of war. Also, tens of millions of Americans were directly impacted by this crime. And that’s all we get? They’re a private company?
  • Note that while Colonial Pipeline is indeed a private entity, so are many other organizations with which Democrats gleefully interfere. Facebook and Twitter are private entities, but Democrats are knee deep in their daily operations. Gun manufacturers, automobile companies, and scores of other industries are highly regulated, and the left doesn’t think twice. But with a pipeline operator that keeps almost half of the country running, they pass.
  • A proper response would have included additional sanctions against Russia, and perhaps even a retaliatory cyber-attack of our own. It’s sad to say, but we should expect another 3.67 years of this timidity from Biden; and hopefully no more than that.
  • Question: How would Democrats and their media have responded if this incident had happened under Trump, and he had the same response as Biden? Trump would have been crucified. They would have accused him of “being in bed” with the Russians. They’d have screamed that Trump’s reticence was due to the imaginary Russian collusion before the 2016 election. But the reality is, Trump wouldn’t have responded like Biden, he would have shown a backbone.

Headline #3:          Rep. Liz Cheney Ousted from GOP Leadership Post

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) was voted off the island on Wednesday, being booted from her spot as the #3 in the House of Representatives’ Republican Party leadership.

Thoughts and Observations:

  • Cheney’s demotion was due primarily to her insistence on focusing her attention on President Trump and doing so through leftwing media outlets. Right on cue, Cheney responded to her relegation exactly how we would have expected. She went on NBC, and explained, “silence is not an option” regarding Trump, and asserting that Trump is “an ongoing threat.” The most RINO of all RINOs.
  • For the record Rep. Cheney, we don’t expect you to be silent about Trump or anyone else. It’s OK to criticize him, and it’s OK to despise him. But he’s been out of office for four months now. Get over it. Here’s a suggestion: Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times, and think to yourself, “There’s no one like Mitt Romney. There’s no one like Mitt Romney.”
  • For those who believe Trump Derangement Syndrome only afflicts leftist Democrats, you are very mistaken. Perhaps those most acutely infected with TDS are RINOs like Cheney. He’s living rent-free in their craniums, and they can’t get him out.
  • Our country is crumbling before our eyes, and it’s not due to Trump. We’re not just spending our grandkids’ money with Biden’s spending spree, we’re spending our great-grandkids money. The Middle East is getting ready to erupt. We’ve got a border crisis eight-times worse than what Trump had on his hands. And we’ve got racial tensions at a level most of us have never seen before thanks to leftist, identity politics. But our Republican #3 in the House only wanted to badmouth a Republican president who left office last winter? You deserved to get sent packing Liz, good riddance, and hopefully you’ll lose in next year’s primary in Wyoming.
  • Cheney also hinted at a presidential run of her own in 2024. Good luck with that one. And anyone fearing she might run as an Independent, we can only hope she does. With her record, she’ll siphon off more votes from the Democrat candidate than the Republican.
  • Kudos to Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for supporting Cheney’s ouster. He catches a lot of flack here on a regular basis for his frequently diffident approach to his position, but he got this one right. It’s likely Cheney would have kept her seat without McCarthy’s involvement.
  • Rep. Elise Stefanik (D-NY) was elected to backfill Cheney, and she’s an excellent choice. At only 36-years old, the sky is the limit for Stefanik, and this is just one more step for her. House Speaker? Senator? President? Who knows, but don’t bet against her.

Headline #4:         CDC Changes Masking Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) adjusted their COVID mask-wearing guidelines on Thursday, stating that vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks, whether inside or outside.

Thoughts and Observations:

  • So, what changed? It must have been the publishing of some ground-breaking study, right? Or the CDC came upon some previously unavailable data, perhaps? Wrong. Nothing changed. We’ve known for months now that the efficacy of the vaccines is exceptional, and it never made any sense to require vaccinated people to wear masks indoors, let alone outside. So, what was the driver? President Biden had a real crappy week, and he needed some good news. For reference, please see headlines #1 and #2.
  • Note that just last week, President Biden, who has been fully vaccinated for months now, wasn’t just wearing masks indoors, he was wearing them outdoors as well. And not just one mask, but two. He was also claiming that mask-wearing was our “patriotic duty.” We can only hope that non-brainwashed Democrats and Independents recognize this ridiculousness, but I’m not optimistic.
  • Despite the CDC guidance, several states and cities refused to adjust their own, local requirements and have chosen to leave mask-mandates intact. Included on that list is New York’s Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, of course, who undoubtedly is hoping his bold stance will win him another Emmy Award.
  • The ridiculousness of the timing of the CDC announcement, and the reluctance of states/cities to ditch the mandates shows the intoxicating nature of power. Being able to control people’s lives is like crack cocaine to people like Andrew Cuomo, and they’re not going to just hand back that power without a fight.
  • It’s worth noting the relative disinterest in the CDC announcement. The left and their media naturally attempted to pump up the news as monumental while trying to give credit to the Biden Administration, but most Americans, particularly on social media, seemed to be unmoved by the news. There was essentially a big yawn and ‘whatever’ from the majority of the country. Could it be that clowns like Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and others from the CDC have lost all credibility with many Americans? You bet it’s possible.

Headline #5:         National Teachers’ Union Backtracks on School Closings

In an unrelated, but totally related coincidence, shortly after the CDC’s announcement on masks American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten made a surprise announcement of her support for the reopening of schools, full-time and five days per week… next fall.

Thoughts and Observations:

  • Similar to the CDC’s mask mandate announcement, there was no study or data that was cited by Weingarten as a catalyst for the shift in her position. It just seemed like a good time to make the statement, evidently. Isn’t that peculiar?
  • A natural question for Weingarten, and one that wasn’t asked apparently, is why do we need to wait until next fall? Millions of school children could go back right now, particularly in states that traditionally don’t close for the summer until late-June. None of this makes any sense.
  • To recap, a brief summary: Last spring when tens of millions of Americans went right back to work in factories, retail stores, and virtually every other category of labor, many teachers did not. Teachers’ unions fought tooth-and-nail to keep schools closed, despite clear evidence early on that the health risks to children were less than those of the season flu. It was a sham from the beginning, and one that was never based in the precious “science” the left professes to worship. They could have permitted at-risk students and teachers to remain home and allowed everyone else to go back to school. But they didn’t.
  • In ten years, when we look back at COVID, it won’t be the disease itself that stands out the most, it will be the absurd reactions and handling of the pandemic. And the closing of schools may have the most long-term damaging effects. Those who were infected may have long-lasting health problems, and for those of us who lost loved ones to the virus, we’ll be mourning for years to come. But the impact on school children will be devastating and widespread. Childhoods are fleeting. Lost opportunities for those kids to learn and socialize will never come again, and essentially a full year-and-a-half will have been wasted. And that, friends, is unforgivable.

PF Whalen

PF Whalen is a conservative blogger at TheBlueStateConservative.com.  His work has appeared in multiple publications, including the Western Journal, Human Events, and American Thinker.  Follow him on Parler @PFWhalen

Photo is a screen grab from Fox Business.

Content syndicated from TheBlueStateConservative.com with permission.

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